Since launching its Milkor 4×4 armoured personnel carrier (APC) in 2018, the company has been evolving the vehicle and now offers desert and anti-riot versions – the latter was deployed during the July 2021 unrest in South Africa.

Continuous development has been underway since the vehicle was first unveiled at the September 2018 edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in Pretoria,

“The vehicle was designed to be adaptable for use in multiple applications ranging from an infantry APC, Field Ambulance, Riot Control, Correctional Service vehicle and Cash-in-transit vehicle operations,” stated Devan Kriel, project manager for Land Systems at Milkor.

“Due to the nature of the design, we can easily modify it to meet an end-user’s requirements which allows the vehicle to be used across numerous branches of a country’s military and law enforcement,” Kriel said.

While the original vehicle was specifically designed for the African bush, with high ground clearance and exemplary off-road performance, the operational capability of the vehicle has been expanded to include a Desert variant with a central tyre inflation system, as well as an Anti-Riot variant featuring a scraper and less lethal grenade launchers.

“Whilst the initial target market was African militaries, interest and opportunities for the vehicle have come from outside the continent,” Kriel explained. “Therefore, multiple regions have been added including the Middle East, South America, Asia, and Eastern Europe.”

Apart from the development of their own fleet of armoured vehicles, Milkor has also expanded into the market of maintenance, repair and overhaul of military vehicles. Servicing existing fleets of essential vehicles in the local and global markets continue to remain a large challenge for many military branches.

“Given growing interest in the platform and its capabilities, expanding into vehicle maintenance and repair seems to be the next logical step. Ensuring that these MRO services are up to Having vehicles that remain in operational condition is a vital asset.”, said Kriel.

Additionally, electronics upgrades and weapon station integration services also ensure that existing technologies remain relevant with ever-evolving capabilities. Working closely with strategic partners, Milkor intends on showcasing this capability by demonstrating a fully integrated 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) with a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) on their 4X4 APC towards the end of the year.

As the Diamond Sponsor of the event, Milkor will be displaying these and other products during the eleventh edition of the African Aerospace and Defence Expo in South Africa during September of this year.

Milkor UAE was part of the delegation visit led by HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and other representatives of his office as part of the “Make it in the Emirates” campaign.

At the visit HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber made sure that the companies part of the campaign is adequately supported by relevant authorities within the industry and if there is any way the Ministry can assist in supporting the efforts of UAE defence companies.

Milkor UAE’s conversation with the Minister entailed a discussion surrounding the support it has received being a local established entity, the products Milkor is planning and manufacturing strategy for these products.

Tawazun Industrial Park which is home to the UAE’s biggest defence companies played host at the internal event. TIP is a strategic industrial zone for companies such as Milkor UAE that support and develop UAE defence technologies.

The visit came at a time where more and more emphasis are being put on local defence capability and the use of local supply chains. Global conflicts such as the Ukraine and Russia war has further strengthened the need for indigenized products in all defence sectors.

As a key partner in the #MakeItInTheEmirates campaign, Milkor UAE in August is launching it’s first fully indigenous designed, developed and manufactured product which will also be on display at the Idex/Navdex exhibition in February of 2023 at the ADNEC Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi.

According to Milkor UAE’s CEO Julian Coetzee this product will be the first of many indigenous products that are currently being developed by the company. “We are setting a standard for foreign entities entering the UAE market, we are using the full might of the surrounding chain of local companies to be able to produce our products. We are not here to assemble foreign owned technology.”

Milkor Group is focussed on expanding its Middle Eastern operations with its local presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It is also possible that these two entities could join forces in pursuing business opportunities in the surrounding MENA region to expand defence exporting for both entities.

Milkor UAE launched it’s local office at the Idex 2021 exhibition in the presence of HE Mohammed Al Bowardi the Minister of State for Defence Affairs where the company vowed to develop defence technologies in the UAE, owned by the UAE, it is clear that the company is honoring that promise.

Milkor is continuously expanding their weapon division by growing their customisability to satisfy even more end-user requirements. These customizations include a variety of sight and elevation systems on their existing 40mm grenade launcher range as well as modifications to the Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL).

Conventional operation using the standard Range-Plate Sight requires keeping both eyes open when aiming the weapon. Using this proven technique, the operator improves their situational awareness of the set scenario in which the weapon is being fired. Milkor received a weapon requirement, from an end-user, to enable the operator of the weapon to aim down the sight with one eye open without any obstruction from the barrel, thus the Offset Sight was developed. Designed and delivered within a short time frame, the feedback received during testing proved extremely valuable. This sight enables the operator to aim past the weapon barrel at all elevations in a one eye closed fashion as with most assault rifles. This development illustrates the capability of Milkor to customize their weapon solutions to suit end user requirements. This provides users with an alternative aiming platform which can be used with a variety of sight options.

The Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) has been improved since the original introduction of the secondary weapon to the market. Continuous feedback and collaboration from various end-users and their in-field operational experience plays a vital role in remaining at the forefront in the 40mm weapons sector. Embarking on a new development to include the Milkor UBGL to be fitted to all assault rifles, including the ever-popular AK-47, new adapters have been developed and tested resulting in an advanced solution to provide additional firepower to modern and older generation assault rifles. Additional features upgrades include the increase of the effective range up to 400 metres and the alternative to open the secondary weapon either to the right or the left for reloading.

Constant research and development have allowed Milkor to have the ability to manufacture and supply world-class 37/38mm and 40mm weapons, which cover a range of applications from less-lethal, low, medium, and high-velocity ammunition. The design and manufacture of the weapons are performed in-house therefore enabling the development of unique and bespoke solutions to suit specified end-user requirements.

Milkor will exhibit these weapons at the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo 2022, where they are also the Diamond Sponsor. The event will take place from September 21 to September 25 at the Waterkloof Airforce Base. Milkor will also showcase their capabilities in the categories of air, land and sea at the exhibition, and can be located at stand 4W5 in Hall 4.

Milkor is firmly committed to establishing a local entity in Saudi Arabia and has reached a significant milestone in this process with the granting of an investment license that allows it to become a Saudi military equipment manufacturer.

During the World Defence Show in Riyadh in March, Milkor signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia to establish a local entity inside the Kingdom. The investment license has been granted and registration is ongoing.

The inaugural World Defence Show is an indication of Saudi Arabia’s seriousness in becoming a leader within the defence technology sector, and provides a glimpse into the future of the country becoming self-sufficient and a powerhouse of manufacturing and development.

Milkor Saudi Arabia CEO MC de Beer said, “The investment license allows us as a foreign entity to continue with the legal registration of the new company, which will be a military equipment manufacturer and a considerable amount of vetting and trust building had to be done to achieve this milestone.”

The company believes the progress and support received from the Saudi government is a good indication on the future of the new entity.

“We are proud of the outcome and appreciate the support and modernised mechanisms put in place by the Saudi government to efficiently establish a foreign-owned entity; this only demonstrates their seriousness in making the industry thrive”, de Beer said.

Milkor is engaged in high level discussions with potential future equipment end users of its products, which range from armoured vehicles to patrol boats, multiple grenade launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles. “We respect the fact that procurements of these systems take time, however with the solid foundation that has been built throughout the years with current relationships and the driving ambitions of new relationships we are highly optimistic,” de Beer said.

Milkor is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism. Milkor’s contribution includes 100% indigenous manufacturing and Milkor will also involve local industry in the form of subcontracting and project-based cooperation.

Milkor aims to tap into Saudi Arabia’s substantial defence budget, which stands at $46 billion (R760 billion) this year, according to the Kingdom’s budget statement.

According to Armand Bodenstein, Business Development Director at Milkor, “This latest international expansion does not only present Milkor with the opportunity to tap into the local market within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in line with their localisation policy, but it also presents a new opportunity to share in the knowledge base available within the two countries and allows us to redirect resources back into the South African industry.”

Milkor’s Saudi office is its third internationally, after India and the United Arab Emirates. With the primary focus on localisation and the development of in-country capabilities, the establishment of international offices allows Milkor to develop new relations with local military markets and continue to be at the forefront of technological innovations.

Building on its reputation as the original manufacturer of the now widely popular 40 mm multiple grenade launcher, Milkor has become a specialist in the fields of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), armoured land vehicles, and naval vessels. Its diverse product portfolio now ranges from single shot and six-shot grenade launchers to armed and unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles, the Milkor IPC (Inshore Patrol Craft) and Milkor 4×4 Armoured Personnel Carrier.